Small Town Rumors(54)

“Did Daddy’s affairs begin before or after James?” Jennie Sue asked bluntly.

“Bless your heart, honey, you shouldn’t listen to gossip or worry your pretty little head about things like that.”

Jennie Sue recognized that fake smile on her mother’s face. It meant that they should move on to another subject, but she wasn’t going to let it go.

“I really want to know, Mama,” she pressured.

“After,” Charlotte admitted. “He confronted me, and we came to an understanding. I wouldn’t divorce him and take the company from him if he’d let me have James.”

“And how did James feel about all this?” Jennie Sue couldn’t imagine that he was happy when the love of his life wouldn’t leave her husband.

“He loved me enough to take me any way that he could have me,” Charlotte said. “Now can we change the subject and go on to shoes or the weather?”

“Daddy still loves you,” Jennie Sue said.

“And I’ve always loved Dill. He’s a good man and he’s done wonders with the company. The trouble was that I wasn’t in love with him. That’s what the therapist told me after James died. It makes sense.” She sighed. “Come on. Let’s put this behind us now that you know the details and do some serious shopping this afternoon. I’m going with the Belles whether you come along or not.”

Jennie Sue shook her head. “I can’t afford to shop for new clothing or shoes. Maybe I’ll borrow one of the extra swimsuits in the bathhouse and spend some time in the pool, if that’s okay.”

Neither of them had worn the other one down, so it was a standoff. “Make yourself at home. A couple of the Belles should be arriving”—Charlotte was interrupted by the doorbell—“right now.”

Both women were dressed in cute little capri-length pants and sandals. Underdressed for a day of shopping, and yet there was no doubt that what they were wearing would cost more than Jennie Sue made in a month at her two jobs.

“Jennie Sue, darlin’!” Aunt Sugar rushed to her side and kissed her on the forehead. “We told Charlotte that you’d get enough of that crazy notion that you want to be independent and come home.”

Aunt Mary Lou pushed her out of the way and bent to hug Jennie Sue. “But, honey, you have to be more discreet with the boyfriend. He may be delicious in bed, but after today, you’ve got to keep it on the down low. We’re all disappointed in Percy, but don’t worry, we’ve already got feelers out for the next Mr. Wilshire.” She headed toward the bar. “It’s still mornin’, so a mimosa is in order. How many shall I make? Did y’all hear that Belinda has gotten religion? If she’s atoning for her sins, it’s more than twenty years too late. And I don’t mean she’s just goin’ to church—hell, we all do that—but she’s all up in the food bank and the free clothing for the poor. We might have to have an intervention if she doesn’t straighten up. It’ll give the Belles a bad name.”

Oh, no! Jennie Sue wanted to slap her hands over her cheeks and make a perfect little O with her mouth. The first thing Nadine’s aliens would have to learn if they ever came to earth was that they couldn’t do anything that would give the Sweetwater Belles a bad name.

“No mimosa for me,” Aunt Sugar said. “I’m driving today.”

“None for me. Too many carbs,” Charlotte answered.

“Jennie Sue?” Mary Lou asked.

“No, thank you. And just to be clear, I’m only here to see Mama. I’m not moving back into the house,” Jennie Sue said.

The bottle of champagne hit the ground and splattered everywhere. “Sweet God in heaven. Girl, are you insane?” Aunt Mary Lou gasped. “Do the Belles need to have an intervention for you? You are, after all, a future member.”

“Charlotte, do we need to commit her to a rehab?” Aunt Sugar gasped.

Mabel must’ve heard the glass breaking, because she was there in an instant. She caught Jennie Sue’s eye as she entered the room and raised an eyebrow.

“Aunt Mary Lou dropped a bottle of champagne,” Jennie Sue said. “She’ll probably need to go home and change her shoes before y’all go shopping.”

“I’ll clean it up,” Mabel said.

Jennie Sue pushed up off the lounge, popped the last piece of bacon in her mouth, and said, “I’ll help you.”

Aunt Sugar gasped. “Oh, Charlotte, we were so wrong. We’ll definitely take care of this child after your birthday is over.”

“She’s like her grandmother Baker. That woman was a force. She’ll have to learn her lessons the hard way.” Charlotte stood up and patted Jennie Sue on the cheek. “Call me when you come to your senses, and we’ll do lunch. Even if you are bein’ a brat, we need to discuss your daddy’s birthday.”

“I rather enjoy bein’ like Grandma Vera. I’ll call you about Daddy’s birthday in the next few days, Mama.” She stood up and blew a kiss toward her mother as she left.



Jennie Sue did a dive from the side of the pool, swam a dozen laps, and then stretched out on the lounge. The whole conversation with her mother was surreal in too many ways to count. Were all the Wilshire women so devious? Did they all have lovers outside their marriages?